Italy proposes phasing out coal power plants by 2025

[MILAN] Italy has set its sights on phasing out coal power plants by 2025, the Italian Industry Minister said on Tuesday presenting a consultation document on a new energy strategy.

"We have asked (grid company) Terna to identify the infrastructure needed," Minister Carlo Calenda said in a parliamentary hearing on the document.

Italy's biggest utility Enel has said it will not invest in new coal-fired power plants.

The new energy strategy, still under discussion, aims to reach the goal of 27 percent of gross overall energy consumption from renewable sources by 2030, the document showed.

The strategy, which should be approved by the government at the beginning of November, is also looking to speed up the introduction of vehicles powered by alternative fuels.

It aims to raise the number of electric charging stations to 19,000 by 2020.

REUTERS